2023 Week 5 Newsletter - Term 4

WEEKLY FOCUS - Prioritising Sleep

At this busy stage of the term, it is important that our children are getting the sleep they need to maintain stamina for learning and successful relationships.  This video has a few good suggestions you might find helpful.

Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting

Our Parents and Friends Committee is open to ALL parents in our school.  Its primary purpose is to provide support and empowerment for parents in their vital parenting role.  They do this in many ways – Organising school events, inviting guest speakers and, most importantly, providing parents with the opportunity to have a voice.  They also assist in providing resources that enhance the learning environment for our students.  Once again, our P&F have had a huge year working in all these ways for the betterment of our school and the benefit of our children.

From Our APRE

A number of students have been preparing for their first Reconciliation which takes place this week.  Hayley Lanzon from our parish has been working with our students who have been exploring more deeply the meaning of Reconciliation.

Congratulations to: 

Arabella Columbus

Sailor Druitt

Avery Frost

Josh McConnell

Michael Ross

Ari Schultz

Ruby Spooner

 Arlo Thetford

 Aspen Thetford

The Gospel reading from last Sunday is arguably one of the most well known scriptural quotes –

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: you must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.  Matthew 22:34-40

It seems to be a simple commandment – and yet it is obviously one of the most difficult.  It is easy to love our friends and family, but do we love our ‘neighbour’ or ourselves?

The following reflection from Sunday’s Gospel reading raised some interesting points.  Are you compassionate?  Are you comfortable with who you are?

Scriptural context – Quoting scripture

The question and response that we see in this gospel passage was a common form of scholarly debate in the Jewish tradition. The Pharisees ask Jesus which of the commandments is the greatest. Jesus responds by directly quoting the commandment from the ancient scriptures. His reply, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,’ comes directly from Deuteronomy 6:4. Further, Jesus’ followup, ‘you must love your neighbour as yourself,’ comes from Leviticus 19:18. Deuteronomy and Leviticus are two of the first five books of the Bible that make up the Jewish Torah, or Law.

Living the Gospel – Compassion

Jesus’ words call us to love our neighbour as ourselves. We are called to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. To be able to do this, we need to picture ourselves in their place – experiencing all that they are experiencing; not imposing our own values and circumstances. To see ourselves in the place of another is the key to responding with compassion. The origin of the word ‘compassion’ means experiencing with.  If we are able to truly ‘experience with’ another person perhaps then we can genuinely recognise and respond to their needs.

Gospel Focus – Love your neighbour as yourself

There is an implicit, or understood, commandment within the command to love your neighbour as yourself. That is, we must first love ourselves. Whilst to say someone ‘loves themself’ is used as a criticism of a person who is a bit too vain, that is not what is intended here. If we are to love others as we love ourselves we must first be content and happy with who we are. It is only when we are comfortable with who we are that we are able to reach out to those around us with compassion.

Greg Sunter @ Liturgy Help

Reach out to those around you this week.

Kellie Richardson

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au

Christmas Hamper

Each year our school supports the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.  Please see attached flyer for details.  This year we will hold a free dress day as part of the campaign and students are asked to donate something toward this appeal if they choose to come to school in free dress on the day.

FREE DRESS DAY – THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER

Students are invited to wear sun safe free dress to school on this day and donate an item of food for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.

Liturgies and Assemblies

WEEK 5

Year 4 invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 3^rd November at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 6

Prep invite you to their Liturgy on Tuesday 7^th November at 9.30am in the Star of the Sea Church.   

WEEK 7

Year 5 Leadership Speeches will take place this week – please keep an eye out for more details closer to the dates.

WEEK 8

Year 6 invite you to their FINAL assembly presentation on Thursday 23^rd November at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

Everyone is invited to attend our annual Christmas Concert on Friday 24^th November.

WEEK 9

Everyone is invited to attend our Year 6 Graduation Liturgy on Monday night @ 6pm in the Star of the Sea Church. 

Everyone is invited to attend our End of Year Mass on Friday 1^st December in the Star of the Sea Church.  Time, yet to be confirmed.

In Our Prayers

From the APC

We are half way through the final term of 2023.   It is at this stage of the year that our students, staff and parents tend to feel a little tired and worn out.   I want to acknowledge this and ask you all to talk as a family about why mid-term, we seem to lose our way a little and what you can do together as a family to ease this feeling.  

I have seen the behaviour of some of our students start to show signs of their tiredness.  The way they are interacting, speaking with each other and speaking to staff.  I am no exception, I am feeling a little tired too.  I have to check on my interactions with people as well, I sometimes overreact to certain comments or circumstances when I am tired.  

We are a little exhausted, and so we should be.  2023 has been another massive year.  So many highlights, so much achieved and still so much to come.   It is the next couple of weeks that we need to push through before the final weeks come around.   We have the Swimming Carnival, Christmas Concert, Year 6 Graduation and our end of year mass.

Let’s all work together to reflect on the year we have had, continue to work hard on staying positive, patient and kind to each other.  I am looking forward to our final few weeks leading up to our Christmas break.

Anthony King

Assistant to the Principal - Curriculum 

anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

2024 CLASS ARRANGEMENTS

As we prepare for our 2024 Class arrangements we invite you to notify us of any important information that should be considered for our class composition by completing a 2024 Student Information Form.

These forms are available from the school office and are designed for parents to formally communicate any important information in relation to their own child, for class placements in 2024 in regards to social, emotional, physical or learning concerns.

Please be aware that these forms are not to request a specific class, nor teacher, but rather to inform the Principal formally of any relevant concerns that pertain directly to your child.

All information included in the 2024 Student Information Form will be treated confidentially.  As always, requests will be considered by the Principal but, as you are aware, many factors are well-considered when forming classes, and teachers’ professional judgement is vital in this process also.

Please also know that classroom teachers are not the only professionals involved in finalising classes for the following year.  Teachers also meet with Learning Support staff and the Leadership team to finalise these lists.  

Please do not put requests to teachers directly.  Only those submissions made to the Principal will be formally considered.

2024 Student Information Forms must be returned to school in an envelope addressed to the Principal by Friday 10th November.

Star of the Sea Swimming Carnival

Swimming Carnival Program of Events

17^th November 2023

Year 2 – Year 6

Class Lists

2024 Class lists are currently being prepared by the school and we have traditionally sent home a class list with each student in the last week of school.  Before we continue this tradition it is important to gauge the community’s wishes in light of privacy laws.  

If you would prefer not to have your child’s name included on the class lists please contact the school office by Friday 17 November please.

Instrumental Music - Recruitment for 2024 has commenced!

Are you interested in learning an instrument and playing in the school band next year?

As part of our Instrumental Music recruiting process for Woodwind, Brass and Percussion for 2024 all Year 2, 3, 4, and 5 students have watched our Star of the Sea Intermediate Band perform at assembly this week.

Students have seen and heard demonstrations on instruments from the Woodwind family (Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone and Tenor Saxophone);  the Brass family (Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone Horn, Euphonium and Tuba); the Percussion family.

All Year 2, 3, 4 and 5 students who are not already in the Instrumental Music Program have been given Expression of Interest forms to join the Instrumental Music program in 2024.  Forms are also available from the school office, or you can complete the form online at this link: https://bit.ly/sosginstrumental     Expression of interest forms need to be completed and returned no later than Tuesday 7th November.

Instrument suitability testing will be carried out in Week 6.   All students will be tested on all instruments. Offers will be made according to student preferences, the need to retain balance within the band, and matching the most suitable student to the vacant instrument positions within the program.

We have a limited supply of instruments available for hire through the school ($225 per year) or parents can purchase new or second-hand instruments for their child. School instrument hire is first in, best dressed; with preference given to students hiring for the first time.

Current Year 4 and 5 students (next Year’s 5 and 6) will also have the opportunity to learn the Oboe, Tenoroon (mini bassoon), French Horn and Tuba.  These instruments are available for hire ($50 per term) through GISMA (Gladstone Independent Schools Music Association) and they do require extra support from parents.

Many thanks for your support and encouragement of our future musicians!

Mrs Carmen Tankard - Instrumental Music Teacher

You can contact me directly (details below) or through the school office 4972 1305.

Email: tankardc@gmail.com    or    Mobile: 0409 985 501

Departing Families

At this stage of the year, work and personal circumstances sometimes mean that we have families moving from Star of the Sea.  If you have not already done so, please send us an email or a note to let us know.

This allows us to make accurate preparations for 2024.  It also allows other families on our wait lists for certain year levels to be considered for a place with us next year. 

We hope that you can join us for our End of Year Mass so that we can pray a special blessing for you and your family.

Student of the Week Award

Tuckshop Update

Please note that the arrangements for use of our School Tuckshop have changed slightly.

Students are no longer permitted to have loose money to spend over the counter.
All orders for ice blocks, drinks and other items must be made via Flex Schools or a written order at the start of the day.

Additionally, ice blocks are limited to one per child each day.

Please Update Your Media Details

Dear Parents

We are asking your assistance in updating media consent for your child/ren.  Our system has been updated with more options that give us clarity with the myriad different ways your child's details can possibly be used.  

If you completed a paper copy of the enrolment form, you will definitely need to update these media consent details please.  Parents who completed an online application are also asked to check their child's current media permissions to ensure it is correct.

This is a very quick task completed through Parent Lounge and below are some instructions to guide you with this task.  You will need to complete this task for each child you have at Star of the Sea please.

We appreciate your help in ensuring we have the correct information for your child/ren.

Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme -No Applications Accepted after Tuesday 31st October

Uniform Shop Update

2023 School Goals

Student Absentee Line

If your child is not attending school, you can call us, 24/7, to leave a message to report the absence. The  phone number is 4994 8301.  

This designated phone line gives you the opportunity to call the school at a time that is convenient to you.

As always, absences can be reported using Parent Lounge or by emailing your child’s classroom teacher  and                                                                                                                SOSG_Absentee@rok.catholic.edu.au).

St Joseph's Cathedral Appeal